Top 10 Things To Do, Activities and Attractions in Bethesda

"Often featured in movies and TV shows as the location is symbolic in American history, the Lincoln Memorial is housed in an impressive Greek-style columned building at the west end of the National Mall. This memorial can get incredibly busy with tourists during the day, so it’s best to arrive here at dawn to make use of the early morning light, or late in the evening when the memorial is lit up. Take along a wide angle lens to capture the monument up close, and experiment with different angles while inside."

"A 19-foot-tall (5.7-meter-tall) marble statue of President Abraham Lincoln dominates the Lincoln Memorial, situated at the edge of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington DC. The most visited National Park Service site in the city is an homage to the 16th president of the United States, who helped to preserve the Union during the Civil War and delivered the Gettysburg Address and the Emancipation Proclamation.More"

"Washington, DC is home to many famous monuments and memorials. Visit the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Memorial and WWII Memorial. If you can’t fit in a tour of the monuments during the day, try our Monuments by Moonlight tour to see them fully illuminated at night."

"Danita Delimont/Gallo Images Collection/Getty Images (cropped). Architect Robert Mills' initial design for the Washington Monument honored America's first president with a 600-foot tall, square, flat-topped pillar. At the base of the pillar, Mills envisioned an elaborate colonnade with statues of 30 Revolutionary War heroes and a soaring sculpture of George Washington in a chariot."

"Erected in honor of the nation’s first president, the Washington Monument is the tallest building in Washington DC, reaching 555 feet (169 meters) high. The white, marble obelisk is also one of the capital’s most famous structures, made even more remarkable when seen with its mirror image reflected in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.More"

"Standing 555 feet high and anchoring one end of the National Mall, the Washington Monument is especially beautiful at sunset or sunrise (there are fewer crowds as well). The base of the monument is ringed by 50 American flags (one for each state)."

"Crowning Capitol Hill and on a perfect axis with dozens of monuments on the National Mall is a worldwide symbol of democracy, visible across Washington. The Capitol Building is the home of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the seat of the legislative branch of the Federal Government of the United States. For much of its past it has also housed the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court."

"The United States Capitol is both a monument and a working office building. You'll enter the building through the Capitol Visitor Center which is open to visitors from 8:30 a.m."

"The world's largest library – with 164 million books, manuscripts, maps, photos, films and other items – awes in both scope and design. The centerpiece is the 1897 Jefferson Building. Gawk at the Great Hall, done up in stained glass, marble and mosaics of mythical characters, then seek out the Gutenberg Bible (c 1455), Thomas Jefferson's round library and the reading room viewing area. Free tours of the building take place between 10:30am and 3:30pm on the half-hour."

"One of the world’s most important libraries; all the books housed here are alongside stunning architecture. The view from the balcony and the Instagram shot you get here will be stunning. View this post on Instagram"

"When it was created in 1800, the Library of Congress was primarily a resource for Congressmen. The library was located where the legislators worked, in the U.S."

"Since 1800, the White House has been a symbol of the United States government, the president and the people of America. It has also served as the home of every U.S. president except George Washington. Remodeled and restored many times over the years, the White House is recognized around the world as an emblem of American democracy."

"One of the most visited buildings in DC has to be the White House. You can get pretty close to the White House on either the north or south side. Periodically public access will be closed if there is a special event; typically you can get pretty close all-day."

"Popular stops include the White House, Capitol Hill, Jefferson Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. You can click here to learn more."

"The Tidal Basin is perhaps best known for the National Cherry Blossom Festival it hosts each spring, but this DC reservoir has a lot more going for it. You’ll find few places in the city better suited for exploring, owing in part to the staggering amount of iconic monuments located at Tidal Basin. The main 3 are the Jefferson Memorial, the MLK Memorial, and the FDR Memorial."

"Needless to say, Tidal Basin during the Cherry Blossom Festival gets very VERY crowded. Best time to photograph would be around 7 AM during a weekday, when DC residents are working and tourists are asleep. Tripods are allowed but actual use may be challenging if you go during a peak..."

"Take a walk along the Tidal Basin, basking in the scent of cherry blossoms and the cool breeze along the Potomac River."

"This is another former home turned into a historic site in this list of national park service sites in Washington DC. It is located in 1538 9th Street NW, in Washington DC’s Shaw neighborhood. The site preserved the former home of Carter G. Woodson who died in 1950 and founded the Black History Month. He is an African-American author, journalist and historian."

"Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s home served as the headquarters for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Dr. Woodson established Negro History Week here in 1926, which we celebrate today as Black History Month. Rangers offer guided interpretive tours of the house on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays."

"This is the home of African-American historian, author, and journalist Carter G. Woodson, also the founder of Black History Month. The house has recently completed renovations and is open for tours (reservations highly recommended) on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday."

"Groundswell by Mark Reigelman is the third installation for the Site See: New Views in Old Town annual public art series at Waterfront Park. Mirror Mirrorby SOFTlab was the inaugural exhibition in 2019 followed by Wrought, Knit, Labors, Legacies by Olalekan Jeyifous in 2020. Learn more about the expanded Waterfront Park."

"Museums are everywhere at the National Mall, including the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Institution Building, and the National Museum of African Art. Visitors can spend days exploring these historical sites and learning about the country’s past. Few cities in the world can rival the stunning collection of landmarks that D.C."

"Kids love to run around and most of the indoor attractions in the area frown on that so turn them loose on the lawn portion of the National Mall. On warm days, you will find a number of people setting up picnics or playing pick up games of soccer and football. Be sure to take a silly photo with the Washington Monument where it looks like you are a giant."

"Care for a picnic where some of America's most iconic buildings are the backdrop?. Head to the grass portion of the National Mall. On warm days, you will find several people playing pick up games of soccer and football or flying kites."

"Eat Lunch at Eastern Market or Barracks Row Walk east to Eastern Market, which is especially lively on weekends as part of the street is shut down for vendors to sell crafts and food. Enjoy some fast casual food or walk a few blocks farther to 8th Street SE (Barracks Row) where you will find a wide range of great restaurants. After lunch, take the metro to the Smithsonian Metro Station to visit the National Mall."

"Scrambling eggs since 1935, this diner has three locations throughout Maryland, two of which – Laurel and Silver Spring – serve beer and wine. Open round-the-clock, the diners have jukeboxes and televisions to keep younger ears and eyes entertained. To fill mouths, check the daily blue plate specials such as the crab cake platter on Wednesdays at the Bethesda location."

"One of the last original and authentic American diners left, this restaurant has been serving the Metro area since 1935. There are three locations to chose from in Maryland: Silver Spring, Bethesda and Laurel. Crack open a menu and you will find classic Americana offerings like fried chicken, pancakes and eggs."

"Tastee Diner has two locations in Bethesda and Silver Spring. It’s open 24-hours a day, and each booth comes with its own jukebox. The hotcakes are the main attraction here."

"If your artsy, bookish next-door neighbor's living room had a commercial kitchen in it, it would feel much like Rooster & Owl, which is housed on the ground-floor of a new building on 14th Street. Vegetarians and meat eaters alike will feel catered to, thanks to a set menu that changes with the seasons, but every meal at Rooster & Owl begins with an order of delectable pineapple buns, inspired by chef Yuan Tang's childhood in Hong Kong (no pineapples are present). The husband-and-wife team behind the restaurant designed the menu as a communal experience, with lots of sharing: four courses with four choices each."

"With a propensity to mix Asian, Italian, and Middle Eastern ingredients, Rooster & Owl navigates through traps that would trip up lesser restaurants. Chef Yuan Tang’s stunner has drawn a lot of notice in its first year, including a three-star review by the Washington Post and a James Beard Award semifinalist nod for Best New Restaurant. The 14th Street NW eatery reopened for on-site dining in March after a year-long hiatus, offering four-course feasts featuring dishes like Carolina-style barbecue carrots or “beet quaillington” with prosciutto, oyster mushroom, and curry."

"The gist: The farmers’ market dictates the menu at this build-your-own tasting menu restaurant where sharing is encouraged. The food: The offerings change based on what’s in season, but each guest gets to choose their courses for the tasting menu from a selection of vegetable-forward dishes. Right now, highlights include watermelon with green curry and herbs, ravioli with grilled corn and lemon beurre fondue, seafood paella, and a cornflake bakewell tart.The cost: The tasting menu is $75 per person with add-ons and beverage pairings available."

"Buck’s Fishing & Camping, in northwest DC, has an awesome ambience. It’s a neighborhood place with terrific food and a great vibe—artsy and sort of moody. The decor is meant to conjure an old fishing camp: There are canoes in the ceiling, and big huge plants, and great, dark red lighting."